PEORIA — Quick changes designed to result in slower traffic are coming to the Uplands.

New speed limits, signs and physical barriers probably will be in place in the West Bluff neighborhood by the end of next week, City Engineer Scott Reeise said Monday. The changes are a response to complaints about cut-through traffic in the Uplands. The area is located northwest of the recently refurbished intersection of Main and University streets.

“Our goal is to reduce the volume of traffic and, most importantly, reduce the speed of traffic,” Reeise said. “There are a lot of kids in that neighborhood, and it’s very close to the urban core.”

In an email sent to Uplands residents Monday, City Manager Patrick Urich outlined some of the changes. Urich resides in the Uplands.

Speed limits on Uplands thoroughfares are to be reduced to 20 mph. According to Reeise, that’s the lowest limit state law allows municipalities to impose in an expedited manner.

A three-way stop at Columbia Terrace and Maplewood Avenue is likely to be in place next week, Urich stated. That would create stops at each Columbia Terrace intersection in the neighborhood. Some east-west Uplands alleys are to be restricted to garbage trucks.

The most obvious short-term physical change involves installation of barriers that extend from Columbia Terrace curbs into the roadway. Called chicanes, they force traffic to weave around them and reduce speed.

“It’s not a permanent fix,” Reeise said about the barriers to be installed in groups of three. “Just to see if that’s something residents would like.”

Signal-timing alterations at Columbia and University are being investigated, according to Urich. Installation of more prominent no-turn-on-red signs at that intersection took place last week.

More draconian traffic-control measures, such as creating cul-de-sacs to prevent through passage, are unlikely, according to 2nd District City Councilman Chuck Grayeb.

“Those folks who don’t want any traffic through their neighborhood are not understanding of the fact that these are public streets,” said Grayeb, who represents the area. “One way in and one way out. We can’t do that.”

City public-works staff intends to monitor the changes, then undertake traffic counts once the fall semester begins at nearby Bradley University. Last month, the city also measured Uplands traffic.

The new metrics might suggest whether temporary traffic-calming efforts become permanent, according to Grayeb. He said he received more than 50 emails following a community meeting July 10 about the issue.

“I believe this is a good plan we’ve assembled, based on the best practices of our engineers and very constructive suggestions from the Uplanders,” Grayeb said.

Page 2 of 2 - Nick Vlahos can be reached at 686-3285 or nvlahos@pjstar.com. Follow him on Twitter at @VlahosNick.